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"The stigma remains with a person forever, whether there is an acquittal or the charges are withdrawn," Mr Matthews concluded.

"I have no doubt that his situation preyed on his mind and it came to a head when he entered the court for the first time and knew that the report would be in the local paper."

The inquest heard that Mr Wilbee, who denied the assault, was put on leave from his position at Summerfields primary school, Newport, in May last year after it was alleged that the boy had been assaulted.

Mr Wilbee's wife, Gail, a teacher with whom he had two teenage children, said that on the evening of August 28, the day her husband disappeared, he had become agitated and had spent minutes pacing up and down the hallway of the family home.

A report of the preliminary hearing at which he had been charged was to appear the next day in the weekly Isle of Wight County Press.

Mrs Wilbee said: "He had a shocked reaction. He went very quiet. There was a certain glazed look about him.